Get Security Grip

Opinion - Reader Views

November 12, 2001

The vote not to use federal workers to run the nation's airport security system would seem to give some assurance that it is safe to fly. Despite lawmakers' blessings, a man with killer knives, a stun gun and other banned material recently passed an important security checkpoint at a major airport. To make matters worse, this armed man had been caught before, attempting to pull the same trick, but was released and forgotten about.

What the man's motive was I don't know, but I don't think it was good. Would you want to be seated on the same plane with that man and his knives? Not me! The company that is in charge of our nation's airport security, where this ordeal occurred, has been fined, slapped on the hand, and is doing business as usual. Apparently this same company operates at Orlando International Airport. Sadly, this company does not have a lily-white past record either; however, our leadership in Washington allows the company to remain in business keeping our airplanes safe.

If the National Guard were on duty when the man was checked, why didn't someone of that organization catch him? We are also told that United Airlines may be fined. Fine United -- no maybes.

This entire episode is a farce and tragedy combined. It is also a disgrace to every American, especially to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their families.

Don't tell me that it is safe to fly. Any person with any common sense knows that it is not safe to fly. Ever since the first hijacking in this country occurred, it was not safe to fly. The system is broken. Had our elected leaders fixed this broken system way back then, perhaps the twin towers and Pentagon disasters might have been avoided. How many snuffed lives does it take before the broken security system at all U.S. airports is securely fixed?